Cement blade member for cutting-tools and process for producing same

ABSTRACT

A blade member for cutting-tools includes a cermet substrate which contains, apart from unavoidable impurities, a binder phase and a hard dispersed phase. The binder phase contains 5% to 30% by weight of cobalt and/or nickel. The hard dispersed phase contains a balance composite carbonitride of titanium and one or more of the elements tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, hafnium and zirconium. The composite carbo-nitride satisfies the relationship 0.2≦b/(a+b)≦0.7, where a and b denote atomic ratios of carbon and nitrogen, respectively. The substrate includes a hard surface layer in which the maximum hardness is present at a depth between 5 μm and 50 μm from a substrate surface thereof. The substrate surface has a hardness of 20% to 90% of the maximum hardness.

This is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 435,200, filed on Nov. 9, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,491.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cermet blade member which is particularly suitable for cutting-tools used in interrupted cutting operations under particularly severe conditions.

2. Prior Art

As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 54-139815, there was hitherto developed a cermet blade member which consists, apart from unavoidable impurities, of a binder phase of 5% to 30% by weight of at least one of cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni); and a dispersed phase of a balance composite carbo-nitride of titanium (Ti) with at least one of the elements of tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb), hafnium (Hf) and zirconium (Zr); and which includes a hard surface layer wherein hardness is greatest at the surface.

The aforesaid cermet blade member is manufactured by a sintering method which includes heating a green compact of a prescribed blend composition to a prescribed temperature of no greater than the liquid phase-emerging temperature in a carburizing atmosphere of CO and CH₄, or the like, and subsequently carrying out the temperature elevating step to a sintering temperature and a subsequent holding step in a vacuum.

The aforesaid blade member exhibits a superior wear resistance when used for cutting-tools designed for high speed cutting of steel or the like. However, the blade member is susceptible to fracture or chipping when used for interrupted cutting or heavy duty cutting operations where a greater toughness and shock resistance are required, so that the blade member cannot be employed under such circumstances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cermet blade member which not only exhibits superior wear resistance but also is less susceptible to fracture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process for producing the above blade member.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cermet blade member for cutting-tools, comprising a cermet substrate consisting, apart from unavoidable impurities, of a binder phase of 5% to 30% by weight of at least one element selected from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel; and a hard dispersed phase of a balance composite carbo-nitride of titanium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, hafnium and zirconium, the composite carbo-nitride satisfying the relationship of 0.2≦b/(a+b)≦0.7, where a and b denote atomic ratios of carbon and nitrogen, respectively; the substrate including a hard surface layer in which the maximum hardness is present at a depth between 5 μm and 50 μm from the substrate surface thereof, the substrate surface having hardness of 20% to 90% of the greatest hardness.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for producing a cermet blade member for cutting-tools, comprising the steps of mixing powders for forming the binder phase and the hard dispersed phase to provide a powder mixture of a prescribed composition, compacting the powder mixture into a green compact, and sintering the green compact to provide the substrate of cermet, the sintering step including initial temperature elevation in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and subsequent temperature elevation to a temperature ranging from 1,100° C. to 1,500° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, and a subsequent sintering operation in a denitrifying atmosphere such as vacuum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 4 are diagrammatical representations showing several patterns of the sintering process in accordance with the process of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have made an extensive study in order to improve the prior art cermet blade member and have produced a blade member in accordance with the present invention which comprises a cermet substrate consisting, apart from unavoidable impurities, of a binder phase of 5% to 30% by weight of at least one element selected from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel, and a hard dispersed phase of a balance composite carbo-nitride of titanium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, hafnium and zirconium. The dispersed phase may further contain at least one compound selected from the group consisting of tungsten carbide and titanium nitride. The composite carbo-nitride is formed so as to satisfy the relationship 0.2≦b/(a+b) ≦0.7, where a and b denote atomic ratios of carbon and nitrogen, respectively. In addition, the substrate includes a hard surface layer having the maximum hardness at a depth of between 5 μm and 50 μm from the substrate surface thereof, and the surface has a hardness of 20% to 90% of the above-mentioned maximum hardness value.

The blade member of the aforesaid construction has superior fracture resistance characteristics, and therefore exhibits superior cutting performance when used in interrupted cutting operations of steel or the like under particularly severe conditions. In addition, the blade member also exhibits a high wear resistance, and therefore the resulting cutting-tool achieves a good performance for high speed cutting for an extended period of time.

In the foregoing, cobalt and nickel are included to improve toughness of the substrate of the blade member. Accordingly, if the cobalt content or nickel content is below 5% by weight, the resulting blade member loses the required degree of toughness. On the other hand, if the content exceeds 5% by weight, the hardness and hence the wear resistance is lowered.

Furthermore, the substrate of the above blade member is formed so that the hardest region in the hard surface layer is present at a depth of between 5 μm, and 50 μm from the substrate surface. If its position is shallower than 5 μm, the blade member cannot have desired fracture resistance characteristics. On the other hand, if the position is deeper than 50 μm, cutting edges of the blade member will be subjected to wear before the occurrence of a sufficient wear resistance effect by virtue of the hard surface layer, thereby reducing the cutting performance unduly.

In addition, the atomic ratios of carbon and nitrogen in the composite carbo-nitride have an influence on the degree of sintering for cermet and a hardness distribution in the substrate. If the ratio defined by b/(a+b) is below 0.2, the nitrogen content is too low relative to the carbon content. As a result, in conjunction with sintering conditions, the hardest region in the substrate shifts toward the substrate surface, and therefore the hardest region cannot be maintained at the previously-described desired depth ranging between 5 μm and 50 μm. On the other hand, if the above ratio exceeds 0.7, the nitrogen content is too high relative to the carbon content to maintain a sufficient degree of sintering, thereby failing to ensure the desired high degree of toughness.

Furthermore, if the hardness at the substrate surface is greater than 90% of the maximum hardness value, the difference between the hardness at the substrate surface and the maximum hardness is too small, and the blade member becomes susceptible to fracture. On the other hand, if the hardness at the substrate surface is less than 20% of the maximum hardness value, the substrate surface will be subjected to rapid wear, so that the life of the blade member is shortened.

Furthermore, in order to further improve the cutting performance, a hard coating having an average thickness of 0.5 μm to 20 μm may be formed on the substrate. The hard coating may be composed of either diamond or cubic boron nitride (CBN). The hard coating may also be composed of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a carbide, a nitride, an oxide and a boride of at least one element, selected from the class consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, aluminum and silicon; and solid solution compounds of two or more of the carbide, nitride, oxide and boride of the at least one element The hard coating may include one or more layers.

For producing the aforesaid blade member, a powder metallurgical process is utilized. Specifically, powders for forming the binder phase and the hard dispersed phase are first prepared and blended at a predetermined composition to provide a powder mixture. Thereafter, the mixture is compacted into a green compact and sintered In the sintering operation, initial temperature elevation is effected in a non-oxidizing atmosphere such as a vacuum or an inert gas atmosphere. In the subsequent temperature elevation from 1,100° C., above which nitrides or carbo-nitrides are susceptible to decomposition, to a sintering temperature Ts ranging from 1,400° C. to 1,500° C., a gaseous nitrogen atmosphere is used. Then, the subsequent sintering step including the cooling step is effected in a denitrifying atmosphere such as a vacuum. According to the above sintering process, there are four possible patterns (A), (B), (C) and (D) as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, respectively. Among the four patterns, (B) and (C) are preferable in order to obtain a better blade member.

The hard coating of the aforesaid construction ma be formed on the substrate thus produced by means of a known physical or chemical vapor deposition method.

In the above blade member, the position of the hardest region in the hard surface layer can be regulated by changing the ratio b/(a+b) in the composite carbo-nitride during the blending step or by modifying the sintering conditions. For instance, if the blending is effected so that the ratio b/(a+b) in the composite carbo-nitride in the resulting substrate becomes greater (i.e., the nitrogen content therein becomes greater), the hardest region will shift to the inner or deeper position, and accordingly the hardness at the substrate surface will be lowered. Moreover, if the sintering step in the denitrifying atmosphere is prolonged to enhance the degree of denitrification, the position of the hardest region will shift inwardly of the substrate. On the other hand, if the step in the denitrifying atmosphere is shortened, the hardest region will shift toward the substrate surface and hence the hardness at the substrate surface increases.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following example.

EXAMPLE

Powders of TiC, TiN, WC, Mo₂ C, TaC, NbC, HfC, ZrC, Co and Ni were prepared, each of which having a prescribed average particle size ranging from 1 μm to 1.5 μm. These powders were blended in various blend compositions depicted in Tables 1 to 4 and were subjected to wet mixing in a ball mill for 72 hours. After being dried, each mixture was pressed into a green compact of a shape in conformity with SNMG120408 of the ISO Standards. Subsequently, the green compact was sintered under the following conditions:

Specifically, the green compact was first heated from the ordinary temperature to 1,100° C. in a vacuum, and further heated from 1,100° C. to 1,450° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere of 10 torr. Then, the atmosphere was removed to produce a vacuum of 10⁻² torr, in which the compact was held for 1 hour and in which the subsequent cooling step was carried out.

With the above sintering procedures, cutting inserts 1 to 23 of the invention were manufactured.

Furthermore, for comparison purposes, the green compacts having the same compositions as the cutting inserts of the invention were prepared and sintered under the following conditions:

Specifically, each compact was heated from the ordinary temperature to 1,100° C. in a gaseous carbon monoxide (CO) atmosphere of 50 torr, and the subsequent operation, which included the temperature elevation step from 1,100° C. to 1,450° C. (starting temperature of the holding step), the holding step of the compact for 1 hour and the cooling step from the above temperature to the ordinary temperature, was effected in a vacuum of 10⁻² torr. With these procedures, comparative cutting inserts 1 to 23 were produced as depicted in Tables 5 to 8.

Then, the hardness, which was based on micro Vickers (load: 100 g) measurements on an inclined surface having an angle of 11°, was measured for each cutting insert and the results are set forth in Tables 1 to 8. In the experiment, carbides and nitrides of a single element were used, but carbo-nitrides of a single element or a solid solution of composite carbides, nitrides or carbo-nitrides of plural elements could be used as well.

Subsequently, in order to evaluate fracture resistance characteristics, the cutting inserts thus obtained were subjected to dry-type interrupted cutting tests of steel under the following conditions:

Workpiece: square bar (JIS.SNCN439; Hardness: H_(B) 270)

Cutting speed: 150 m/minute

Depth of cut: 2 mm

Feed rate: 0.3 mm/revolution

Cutting time: 2 minutes

In this test, the number of inserts subjected to fracture per ten was determined.

Similarly, in order to evaluate the wear resistance, all of the cutting inserts were subjected to a dry-type continuous high-speed cutting test, and flank wear was observed. The conditions of this test were as follows:

Workpiece: round bar (JIS.SCM415; Hardness: H_(B) 160)

Cutting speed: 300 m/minute

Depth of cut: 1.5 mm

Feed rate: 0.2 mm/revolution

Cutting time: 20 minutes

The results of the above two tests are set forth in Tables 1 to 8.

As clearly seen from the results, the inserts of the present invention are comparable to the comparative cutting inserts in the degree of wear resistance. However, the inserts of the present invention exhibit greater fracture resistance characteristics than the comparative inserts.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Cutting Inserts of the Invention                                                    Blend Composition (% by weight)                                                          Composition of Substrate (% by weight)                                                  ##STR1##                                                                            Substrate Surface hard-hardness nesspercent                                   Hv)(%)     Maximum Hardness Hardness Depth                                              (Hv)(μm)                                                                              Internal Hardness                                                                   ##STR2##                                                                              Frank Wear                                                                    Width (mm)          __________________________________________________________________________     1    Ni:6 TaC:8                                                                               Ni:6     0.24 1780                                                                               88.1 2020  5  1720 3/10   0.11                     Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:20                                                                     (Ti, Ta, Mo)                                                         TiC:other (CN):other                                                      2    Co:8 Ni:4 NbC:2                                                                          Co:8 Ni:4 TiN:6                                                                         0.44  590                                                                               26.5 2230 40  1680 3/10   0.12                     TaC:10 WC:10                                                                             (Ti, Ta, Nb, W,                                                      Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:30                                                                     Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiC:other                                                                 3    Co:4 Ni:8 NbC:3                                                                          Co:4 Ni:8 TiN:5                                                                         0.45 1580                                                                               75.6 2090 15  1670 1/10   0.12                     TaC:10 WC:10                                                                             (Ti, Nb, Ta, W,                                                      Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:30                                                                     Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiC:other                                                                 4    Co:10 Ni:5 NbC:5                                                                         Co:10 Ni:5 TiN:10                                                                       0.50  730                                                                               37.2 1960 45  1650 0/10   0.24                     TaC:10 WC:10                                                                             (Ti, Ta, Nb, W)                                                      TiN:35 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                      5    Co:12 Ni:4 TaC:15                                                                        Co:12 Ni:4 TiN:8                                                                        0.55 1630                                                                               85.3 1910 15  1650 0/10   0.18                     WC:15 TiN:35                                                                             (Ti, Ta, W)                                                          TiC:other (CN):other                                                      6    Co:12 Ni:4 TaC:10                                                                        Co:12 Ni:4 WC:8                                                                         0.44 1680                                                                               87.5 1960 20  1670 0/10   0.22                     WC:30 TiN:25                                                                             (Ti, Ta, W)                                                          TiC:other (CN):other                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Cutting Inserts of the Invention                                                    Blend Composition (% by weight)                                                          Composition of Substrate (% by weight)                                                  ##STR3##                                                                            Substrate Surface hard-hardness nesspercent                                   Hv)(%)     Maximum Hardness Hardness Depth                                              (Hv)(μm)                                                                              Internal Hardness                                                                   ##STR4##                                                                              Frank Wear                                                                    Width (mm)          __________________________________________________________________________      7   Co:12 Ni:6 NbC:2                                                                         Co:12 Ni:6                                                                              0.32 1600                                                                               87.9 1920 10  1590 0/10   0.16                     TaC:15 WC:15                                                                             (Ti, Ta, Nb, W)                                                      TiN:20 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                       8   Co:10 Ni:8 TaC:5                                                                         Co:10 Ni:8 TiN:5                                                                        0.45 1480                                                                               80.4 1940 20  1540 0/10   0.18                     NbC:5 WC:15                                                                              (Ti, Ta, Nb, W)                                                      TiN:30 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                       9   Co:12 Ni:6 NbC:5                                                                         Co:12 Ni:6 WC:10                                                                        0.59  860                                                                               44.6 1930 40  1520 0/10   0.25                     TaC:5 WC:25                                                                              TiN:3 (Ti, Ta, Nb,                                                   TiN:35 TiC:other                                                                         W) (CN):other                                                   10   Co:10 Ni:6 NbC:2                                                                         Co:10 Ni:6 WC:13                                                                        0.47 1280                                                                               63.7 2010 30  1610 0/10   0.25                     TaC:10 WC:35                                                                             (Ti, Ta, Nb, W)                                                      TiN:25 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                      11   Co:12 Ni:6 NbC:3                                                                         Co:12 Ni:6 TiN:8                                                                        0.52 1180                                                                               57.6 2050 35  1540 0/10   0.19                     TaC:8 WC:5                                                                               (Ti, Ta, Nb, W,                                                      Mo.sub.2 C:8 TiN:35                                                                      Mo) (CN)                                                             TiC:other                                                                 12   Co:15 Ni:10 NbC:5                                                                        Co:15 Ni:10                                                                             0.68 1380                                                                               76.7 1960 45  1450 0/10   0.27                     TaC:10 TiN:45                                                                            TiN:12 (Ti, Ta,                                                      TiC:other Nb) (CN):                                                       __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Cutting Inserts of the Invention                                                    Blend Composition (% by weight)                                                          Composition of Substrate (% by weight)                                                  ##STR5##                                                                            Substrate Surface hard-hardness nesspercent                                   Hv)(%)     Maximum Hardness Hardness Depth                                              (Hv)(μm)                                                                              Internal Hardness                                                                   ##STR6##                                                                              Frank Wear                                                                    Width (mm)          __________________________________________________________________________     13   Co:14 Ni:14                                                                              Co:14 Ni:14                                                                             0.31 1500                                                                               82.9 1960 25  1400 0/10   0.28                     ZrC:0.5 NbC:5                                                                            (Ti, Zr, Nb,                                                         Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:20                                                                     Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiC:other                                                                 14   Co:14 Ni:14                                                                              Co:14 Ni:14                                                                             0.46  680                                                                               33.8 2010 40  1380 0/10   0.30                     ZrC:0.1 NbC:3                                                                            TiN:10 (Ti, Zr, Nb,                                                  TaC:10 WC:10                                                                             Ta, W) (CN):other                                                    TiN:40 TiC:other                                                          15   Co:4 Ni:4 TaC:8                                                                          Co:4 Ni:4                                                                               0.25 1600                                                                               80.8 1980 10  1680 2/10   0.15                     WC:6 Mo.sub.2 C:8                                                                        (Ti, Ta, W, Mo)                                                      TiN:20 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                      16   Co:6 Ni:6 TaC:10                                                                         Co:6 Ni:6                                                                               0.55  760                                                                               35.8 1650 45  1650 1/10   0.17                     WC:8 Mo.sub.2 C:5                                                                        TiN:10 (Ti, Ta, W,                                                   TiN:40 TiC:other                                                                         Mo) (CN):other                                                  17   Co:7 Ni:7 NbC:2                                                                          Co:7 Ni:7 TiN:5                                                                         0.43 1630                                                                               75.8 2150  5  1640 0/10   0.16                     TaC:4 WC:10                                                                              (Ti, Ta, Nb, W,                                                      Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:30                                                                     Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiC:other                                                                 18   Co:8 Ni:10                                                                               Co:8 Ni:10 TiN:5                                                                        0.45  870                                                                               41.8 2080 40  1570 0/10   0.20                     NbC:5 TaC:5                                                                              (Ti, Ta, Nb, W,                                                      WC:8 Mo.sub.2 C:8                                                                        Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiN:30 TiC:other                                                          __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Cutting Inserts of the Invention                                                    Blend Composition (% by weight)                                                          Composition of Substrate (% by weight)                                                  ##STR7##                                                                            Substrate Surface hard-hardness nesspercent                                   Hv)(%)     Maximum Hardness Hardness Depth                                              (Hv)(μm)                                                                              Internal Hardness                                                                   ##STR8##                                                                              Frank Wear                                                                    Width (mm)          __________________________________________________________________________     19   Co:16 NbC:10                                                                             Co:16 TiN:10                                                                            0.57 1670                                                                               87.0 1920 10  1650 0/10   0.19                     WC:15 TiN:40                                                                             (Ti, Nb, W)                                                          TiC:other (CN):other                                                      20   Co:10 Ni:12                                                                              Co:10 Ni:12 TiN:8                                                                       0.56  610                                                                               28.6 2130 45  1420 0/10   0.25                     TaC:5 Mo.sub.2 C:10                                                                      (Ti, Ta, W, Mo)                                                      WC:8 TiN:35                                                                              (CN):other                                                           TiC:other                                                                 21   Co:12 Ni:6                                                                               Co:12 Ni:6                                                                              0.34 1520                                                                               80.4 1890  5  1620 0/10   0.20                     TaC:10 Mo.sub.2 C:10                                                                     (Ti, Ta, Mo, W)                                                      WC:15 TiN:20                                                                             (CN):other                                                           TiC:other                                                                 22   Co:10 Ni:10                                                                              Co:10 Ni:10 TiN:3                                                                       0.35 1460                                                                               77.7 1880 10  1450 0/10   0.23                     Mo.sub.2 C:15 TiN:25                                                                     (Ti, Mo)                                                             TiC:other (CN):other                                                      23   Co:20 Ni:5                                                                               Co:20 Ni:5 TiN:3                                                                        0.40 1210                                                                               65.4 1910 14  1430 0/10   0.26                     TaC:5 Mo.sub.2 C:5                                                                       (Ti, Ta, Mo, W,                                                      WC:10 TiN:25                                                                             Hf) (CN):other                                                       HfC:0.5 TiC:other                                                         __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Compar- ative Cutting  Inserts                                                      Blend Composition (% by weight)                                                          Composition of Substrate (% by weight)                                                  ##STR9##                                                                            Substrate Surface hard-hardness nesspercent                                   Hv)(%)     Maximum Hardness Hardness Depth                                              (Hv)(μm)                                                                              Internal Hardness                                                                   ##STR10##                                                                             Frank Wear                                                                    Width (mm)          __________________________________________________________________________     1    Ni:6 TaC:8                                                                               Ni:6     0.18 1920                                                                               --   1920 --  1730 10/10  0.25                     Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:20                                                                     (Ti, Ta, Mo)                                                         TiC:other (CN):other                                                      2    Co:8 Ni:4 NbC:2                                                                          Co:8 Ni:4                                                                               0.38 1870                                                                               --   1870 --  1670 9/10   0.28                     TaC:10 WC:10                                                                             (Ti, Ta, Nb, W,                                                      Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:30                                                                     Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiC:other                                                                 3    Co:4 Ni:8 NbC:3                                                                          Co:4 Ni:8                                                                               0.35 1950                                                                               --   1950 --  1670 9/10   0.27                     TaC:10 WC:10                                                                             (Ti, Nb, Ta, W,                                                      Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:30                                                                     Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiC:other                                                                 4    Co:10 Ni:5                                                                               Co:10 Ni:5 TiN:3                                                                        0.36 1860                                                                               --   1860 --  1650 9/10   0.30                     NbC:5 NbC:10                                                                             (Ti, Ta, Nb, W)                                                      WC:10 TiN:35                                                                             (CN):other                                                           TiC:other                                                                 5    Co:12 Ni:4 TaC:15                                                                        Co:12 Ni:4 TiN:3                                                                        0.48 1880                                                                               --   1880 --  1630 8/10   0.28                     WC:15 TiN:35                                                                             (Ti, Ta, W)                                                          TiC:other (CN):other                                                      6    Co:12 Ni:4 TaC:10                                                                        Co:12 Ni:4                                                                              0.38 1890                                                                               --   1890 --  1650 7/10   0.30                     WC:30 TiN:25                                                                             (Ti, Ta, W)                                                          TiC:other (CN):other                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Compar- ative  Cutting Inserts                                                      Blend Composition (% by weight)                                                          Composition of Substrate (% by weight)                                                  ##STR11##                                                                           Substrate Surface hard-hardness nesspercent                                   Hv)(%)     Maximum Hardness Hardness Depth                                              (Hv)(μm)                                                                              Internal Hardness                                                                   ##STR12##                                                                             Frank Wear                                                                    Width (mm)          __________________________________________________________________________      7   Co:12 Ni:6 NbC:2                                                                         Co:12 Ni:6                                                                              0.25 1830                                                                               --   1830 --  1620 7/10   0.30                     TaC:15 WC:15                                                                             (Ti, Ta, Nb, W)                                                      TiN:20 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                       8   Co:10 Ni:8 TaC:5                                                                         Co:10 Ni:8                                                                              0.41 1810                                                                               --   1810 --  1530 7/10   0.31                     NbC:5 WC:15                                                                              (Ti, Ta, Nb, W)                                                      TiN:30 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                       9   Co:12 Ni:6 NbC:5                                                                         Co:12 Ni:6                                                                              0.48 1800                                                                               --   1800 --  1510 7/10   0.32                     TaC:5 WC:25                                                                              TiN:3 (Ti, Ta, Nb,                                                   TiN:35 TiC:other                                                                         W) (CN):other                                                   10   Co:10 Ni:6 NbC:2                                                                         Co:10 Ni:6 WC:4                                                                         0.41 1910                                                                               --   1910 --  1590 8/10   0.28                     TaC:10 WC:35                                                                             (Ti, Ta, Nb, W)                                                      TiN:25 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                      11   Co:12 Ni:6 NbC:3                                                                         Co:12 Ni:6                                                                              0.39 1850                                                                               --   1850 --  1560 7/10   0.33                     TaC:8 WC:5                                                                               (Ti, Ta, Nb, W,                                                      Mo.sub.2 C:8 TiN:35                                                                      Mo) (CN)                                                             TiC:other                                                                 12   Co:15 Ni:10 NbC:5                                                                        Co:15 Ni:10 TiN:5                                                                       0.58 1800                                                                               --   1800 --  1480 7/10   0.47                     TaC:10 TiN:45                                                                            (Ti, Ta, Nb)                                                         TiC:other (CN):other                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Compar- ative  Cutting Inserts                                                      Blend Composition (% by weight)                                                          Composition of Substrate (% by weight)                                                  ##STR13##                                                                           Substrate Surface hard-hardness nesspercent                                   Hv)(%)     Maximum Hardness Hardness Depth                                              (Hv)(μm)                                                                              Internal Hardness                                                                   ##STR14##                                                                             Frank Wear                                                                    Width (mm)          __________________________________________________________________________     13   Co:14 Ni:14                                                                              Co:14 Ni:14                                                                             0.27 1790                                                                               --   1790 --  1420 6/10   0.55                     ZrC:0.5 NbC:5                                                                            (Ti, Zr, Nb,                                                         Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:20                                                                     Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiC:other                                                                 14   Co:14 Ni:14                                                                              Co:14 Ni:14                                                                             0.33 1710                                                                               --   1710 --  1390 6/10   0.58                     ZrC:0.1 NbC:3                                                                            TiN:3 (Ti, Zr, Nb,                                                   TaC:10 WC:10                                                                             Ta, W) (CN):other                                                    TiN:10 TiC:other                                                          15   Co:4 Ni:4 TaC:8                                                                          Co:4 Ni:4                                                                               0.19 1890                                                                               --   1890 --  1710 10/10  0.25                     WC:6 Mo.sub.2 C:8                                                                        (Ti, Ta, W, Mo)                                                      TiN:20 TiC:other                                                                         (CN):other                                                      16   Co:6 Ni:6 TaC:10                                                                         Co:6 Ni:6                                                                               0.43 1840                                                                               --   1840 --  1640 8/10   0.47                     WC:8 Mo.sub.2 C:5                                                                        TiN:3 (Ti, Ta, W,                                                    TiN:40 TiC:other                                                                         Mo) (CN):other                                                  17   Co:7 Ni:7 NbC:2                                                                          Co:7 Ni:7                                                                               0.43 1920                                                                               --   1920 --  1660 10/10  0.26                     TaC:4 WC:10                                                                              (Ti, Ta, Nb, W,                                                      Mo.sub.2 C:10 TiN:30                                                                     Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiC:other                                                                 18   Co:8 Ni:10                                                                               Co:8 Ni:10                                                                              0.36 1840                                                                               --   1840 --  1560 7/10   0.33                     NbC:5 TaC:5                                                                              (Ti, Ta, Nb, W,                                                      WC:8 Mo.sub.2 C:8                                                                        Mo) (CN):other                                                       TiN:30 TiC:other                                                          __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 8                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Compar- ative  Cutting Inserts                                                      Blend Composition (% by weight)                                                          Composition of Substrate (% by weight)                                                  ##STR15##                                                                           Substrate Surface hard-hardness nesspercent                                   Hv)(%)     Maximum Hardness Hardness Depth                                              (Hv)(μm)                                                                              Internal Hardness                                                                   ##STR16##                                                                             Frank Wear                                                                    Width (mm)          __________________________________________________________________________     19   Co:16 NbC:10                                                                             Co:16 TiN:3                                                                             0.48 1830                                                                               --   1830 --  1650 9/10   0.30                     WC:15 TiN:40                                                                             (Ti, Nb, W)                                                          TiC:other (CN):other                                                      20   Co:10 Ni:12                                                                              Co:10 Ni:12                                                                             0.49 1770                                                                               --   1770 --  1430 6/10   0.56                     TaC:5 Mo.sub.2 C:10                                                                      (Ti, Ta, W, Mo)                                                      WC:8 TiN:35                                                                              (CN):other                                                           TiC:other                                                                 21   Co:12 Ni:6                                                                               Co:12 Ni:6                                                                              0.28 1880                                                                               --   1880 --  1630 8/10   0.29                     TaC:10 Mo.sub.2 C:10                                                                     (Ti, Ta, Mo, W)                                                      WC:15 TiN:20                                                                             (CN):other                                                           TiC:other                                                                 22   Co:10 Ni:10                                                                              Co:10 Ni:10                                                                             0.29 1810                                                                               --   1810 --  1480 7/10   0.40                     Mo.sub.2 C:15 TiN:25                                                                     (Ti, Mo)                                                             TiC:other (CN):other                                                      23   Co:20 Ni:5                                                                               Co:20 Ni:5                                                                              0.34 1760                                                                               --   1760 --  1420 8/10   0.49                     TaC:5 Mo.sub.2 C:5                                                                       (Ti, Ta, Mo, W,                                                      WC:10 TiN:25                                                                             Hf) (CN):other                                                       HfC:0.5 TiC:other                                                         __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for producing a blade member for cutting-tools, comprising the steps of:(a) mixing powders of said binder phase for forming the binder and said hard dispersed phases to provide a powder mixture of a binder phase of 5% to 30% by weight of at least one element selected from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel; and a hard dispersed phase of a balance composite carbo-nitride of titanium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, hafnium and zirconium, said composite carbo-nitride satisfying the relationship of 0.2≦b/(a+b)≦0.7, where a and b denote atomic ratios of carbon and nitrogen, respectively; (b) compacting said powder mixture into a green compact; and (c) sintering said green compact to provide the cermet substrate, said sintering including effecting initial temperature elevation to 1,100° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; subsequent temperature elevation from 1,100° C. to a temperature range between 1,400° C. and 1,500° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere; and a subsequent sintering operation in a denitrifying atmospohere to obtain a hard surface layer in which the region having the maximum hardness is present at a depth from 5 μm and 50 μm from a substrate surface thereof said substrate surface having a hardness of 20% to 90% of said maximum hardness.
 2. The process of claim 1, in which said dispersed phase further contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of tungsten carbide and titanium nitride. 